Riders’ Bane Jr., Emilus closing in on 1,000-yard seasons

Opportunity knocked for a pair of Saskatchewan Roughriders pass-catchers and it appears they answered, as both are nearing an important milestone.

Slotback Shawn Bane Jr. and wide receiver Sam Emilus both could reach the 1,000-yard receiving mark Saturday against the Toronto Argonauts. Kickoff for the CFL game is set for 2 p.m. at Mosaic Stadium.

Bane Jr. enters the game with 968 yards this season while Emilus has 960. The last time the Riders had two receivers eclipse the 1,000-yard mark in the same season was in 2017 when three did it – Duron Carter (1,043), Naaman Roosevelt (1,035) and Bakari Grant (1,033).

Both of the current Riders remain focused on the team’s goal of ending a six-game losing skid and possibly clinching a playoff spot.

“I think it’s super-cool. It’s humbling and it’s an honour. A year ago I was on the practice squad to this year potentially being a 1,000-yard receiver I think is really cool,” said Bane Jr. “Hopefully we can get well more than 1,000 but hopefully that’s also coupled with the win.”

“It’s a great individual accomplishment but we are focused on Toronto and getting that win,” Emilus added. “Coming into the season, I didn’t expect this. I was just hoping to be a starter this year and help out the team. Now that we’re here, I want to accomplish it — but we have bigger goals.”

The Riders (6-11-0) will need to finish the regular season with more points than the Calgary Stampeders (5-11-0) in the CFL’s West Division to make the playoffs. Saskatchewan plays Toronto before a bye week, while Calgary takes on the B.C. Lions and Winnipeg Blue Bombers in its final two games of the regular season.

Saskatchewan lost the season series to Calgary following last week’s 26-19 defeat at McMahon Stadium.

For both receivers, it comes down to the opportunity each was given to be major contributors with the Green and White this season.

Bane Jr. spent two seasons with the Stampeders, only appearing in 13 games over those years. The 28-year-old elected to sign with the Riders in the off-season as Saskatchewan looked to completely transform its receiving corps.

“I’ve always been working behind the scenes. I’ve always been doing extra. I guess it’s just my time this year,” Bane Jr. said.

Saskatchewan Roughriders receiver Sam Emilus (19) is just 40 receiving yards away from reaching 1,000 on the season. (Britton Gray/980 CJME)

Meanwhile, Emilus — who was the Riders’ first-round pick (seventh overall) in the 2022 CFL draft — spent most of last season on the practice roster or as a backup. He was given a chance to be a starter this season due to Kian Schaffer-Baker missing the first half of the season after undergoing off-season hip surgery.

“Every time opportunities come your way, you just have to make the most of it and I feel like we did that – me and Bane and all the receivers,” Emilus said. “We’ve just got to keep building on this.”

Bane Jr. admits it would be pretty cool to have both of them cross the 1,000-yard threshold this week.

“That just shows how explosive we really can be,” Bane Jr. said. “In this league, (1,000 yards) means a lot. It really can help your stock for future deals. For me, it’s just a milestone. One thousand yards – that’s a lot of running in one season.

“To do it against competitors and defenders, it’s a really high marker.”

Quarterback Jake Dolegala also believes the two receivers can get it done against a stingy defence that has helped the Argos go 14-2-0 so far this season.

“It will be great. We will get it done,” Dolegala said. “I feel good about it.”

Notes: The Riders announced the signing of defensive back Mark Fields II on Wednesday. The 27-year-old signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent after the 2019 NFL draft. He was traded to the Minnesota Vikings after that training camp and saw action in one regular-season game with them. The North Carolina product split the 2020 season with the Vikings and Houston Texans. He spent time with the San Francisco 49ers in 2021.